UAE minister to make rare visit to Iran

Tehran, November 28, 2013

The United Arab Emirates foreign minister will visit Iran on Thursday, Iran's state news agency reported, just days after Tehran and world powers struck an interim nuclear accord which has caused Gulf Arab misgivings.

Irna said the UAE's Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed would meet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other officials. It did not disclose the purpose of the talks.

Tension between Iran and Gulf Arab rulers has been heightened by political turmoil across the Middle East. Gulf Arab ministerial visits to Iran are rare.

This month Sheikh Abdullah urged Iran to address issues straining ties with Gulf states, including border disputes, policy on Syria's civil war and its nuclear programme.

The UAE and Iran, regional rivals but also trade partners, both lay claim to the islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for about 40 percent of the world's seaborne oil exports. - Reuters